Bath-cab i net



(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

LA FAYETTE WILDERMUTH. BATH CABINET.

Patented Mar. 1, 1898.

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(No'ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

LA FAYETTE WILDZBRMUTH.v

BATH CABINET.

No. 599,953. Patented Mar. 1, 1898.

ddiigzsses (No Model.) 3 SheetsShet 8. LA FAYETTE WILDERMUTH'.

BATH CABINET.

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LA FAYETTE VVILDERMUTH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

BATH-CABIN ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,953, dated March 1, 1898.

Application filed May 18,1897- Serial No. 637,094. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LA FAYETTE WILDER- MUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Bath-Cabinet, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to bath-cabinets, its object being to construct a cabinet of this character with a collapsing folding frame to which the outer covering is so attached that the cabinet may be quickly folded into a compact form when not in use and as quickly expanded when required for use without injury to either the frame or the cover.

With this object in view theinvention consists of the several details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bath-cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention, the dotted lines indicating the same when collapsed. Fig. 2 is 'a similar view of the framework extended, the cover being removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the framework, showing its position when the cabinet is collapsed. Fig. 4: shows the frame in its folded position for shipping. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the looking hinge-joint between the sections of the upper and the lower horizontal parts of the frame. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the locking hingejoint between the sections of the standards. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner of holding the ends of the standards in position on the horizontal parts of the frame. Fig. 8 is a similar detail showing a modification. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the framework, the cover being removed, showing another form of folding standard.

' Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged detail Views of the locking hinge-joint between the two sections of the standard.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the several figures.

The frame of the cabinet consists of the upper and lower horizontal members 1 and 2 and the vertical standards 3, connecting the horizontal members. The horizontal members of the frame are alike in construction and each consists of two sections 4 and 5, formed of wire bent into loop form of the desired shape,

and the ends of the wires of the two sections are hinged together in the following manner: One arm of each section is bent at its end to form a vertical hook 6, and the other arm is provided near its end with a single horizontal coil 7 to form a spring and also a vertically-disposed eye 8. The end of this arm is also bent to form a horizontalhook 9. The vertical hook 6 of one section engages in the vertical eye 8 of the other section, thus forming a hinge connection between the two sections, and in order to lock the two sections against movement relative to each other at the joint the hook 9 of each section is caused to hook over the arm of the other section, and the spring-coil 7 will hold it in this position. To fold the two sections upon each other, the hooks 9 must be sprung out of engagement with the arms, and the sections will then be free to turn on the hinges.

The standards 3 are also alike in construction, each consisting of two sections 10 and 11, the lower section 11 being formed of a single piece of wire bent in the form of an inverted V. The end of each arm is bent to form a hook 12, which fits over the wire of the lower horizontal member 2 of the frame to form a hinge connection therewith. The apex of the section 11 is expanded to form an eye 13. The upper section 10 is formed of two pieces of wire 14 and 15, each having a hook 16 at its upper end to fit over the wire of the upper horizontal member 1 of the frame to form a" hinged connection therewith. The upper ends of these wires are spaced apart, and the lower end of the wire 15 is bent to form a hook 17, which engages an eye 18, formed by making a coil in the wire 14. The lower portion of the wire 14 passes through the eye 13 at the upper end of the section 11, and is then bent to form a coil 19' and extended down on the inner side of the section 11, and its end is then bent to form a horizontal hook 20, adapted to extend across the front side of the section 11 and having a return-bend 21 to extend around in front of one of the arms of the section 11. The coil 17 and the eye 13 form a hinged connection between the sections 10 and 11, and the hook 2O 21 forms a lock to prevent the two sections turning on their hinge. To release the hook, the two arms of the section 11 are sprung in toward each other until the return-bend 21 is disengaged from the arm,

and the sections may then be turned on their hinge.

In order to prevent lateral movement of the ends of the standards on the horizontal members of the frame, small pieces of wire may be twisted around the wire of the horizontal members on each side of each of the hooks on the ends of the standards and soldered in place, as indicated at 22, or instead of soldering on the wires 22 loops or eyes 23 may be formed in the wires of the horizontal members, into which the ends of the standards may be hooked, as shown in Fig. 8.

The cover is indicated by 24 and is attached to the horizontal members 1 and 2 of the frame in such manner as not to interfere with the free movement of the standards, in order that the cabinet may be expanded or collasped when necessary.

The top part of the cover is provided with a shirring 25, to be gathered and secured around the neck of the person occupying the bath-cabinet. Just above the connection of the shirring to the cover a wire loop 26 is secured to the shining, which serves to strengthen or stiffen it and also reduces the liability of the shirring becoming detached from the cover. The cover may be of rubb e1i or any other suitable impervious mater1a Referring to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, the lower section 11 of the standard is formed similarly to that already described, having the eye 13 at its upper end. The upper section 10 is, however, differently constructed, as will be now described. The wire 14 extends straight from the upper horizontal frame to the eye 13,through which it passes,and is bent to form the coil 19, with its lower end portion extended down parallel with the lower section 11 and a coil 18 formed in it below the hinge formed by the coil 19 and eye 13. The portion of the wire 14 below the coil 18 is left straight, so as to lie fiat against the lower section 11, and a ring 27, which is fitted over the section 11, is adapted to slide vertically to embrace the straight end portion of the wire 14 and thereby lock the hinge. By sliding the ring 26 downwardly until it is free from the wire 1 1 the hinge will be unlocked, and the two sections of the standards may then be folded together. The wire 15 is longer than in the standard previously described, and its lower end is provided with a hook 17 to engage the eye 18. Each section 10 and 11 is formed of two members diverging from the hinge-joint.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the bath-cabinet may be held in expanded form by locking the hinged joints of the standards and quickly collapsed on releasing said joints to permit the standards to fold upon themselves, and the cabinet will then occupy very little space. By folding the frame into the form shown in Fig. 4 the frames can be packed into very small compass for shipping.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a bath-cabinet, a collapsible wire frame consisting of two horizontal members, and a series of vertical standards hinged at their upper and lower ends to the respective horizontal members, each of said horizontal members consisting of two sections hinged together and each section having an integral spring-hook to extend across the hinge-joint and detachably engage the other section to lock the sections from turning on theirhinges, and each standard consisting of two sections hinged together and provided with a releasable locking device to hold them in Vertical position, substantially as described.

2. In a bath -cabinet, a collapsible wire frame consisting of two horizontal members, a series of vertical standards hinged at their upper and lower ends to the respective horizontal members, each standard consisting of two sections, one of said sections having an eye formed at its inner end from which its arms diverge, and the inner end portion of the other section having a coil formed therein which passes through said eye, and its end being extended beyond the hinge, and means to lock such extending end to the arms of the other section, substantially 'as described.

3. In a collapsible bath-cabinet, a horizontal frame to form a support to which either the upper or lower end of the cabinet may be attached, said frame consisting of two sections formed of wire bent to the desired form and hinged together, and each section having an integral spring-l1ook to extend across the respective hinge-joints and detachably engage the other section to lock-the sections from turning on their hinges, substantially as described.

4.. In a bath-cabinet, a collapsible wire frame consisting of two horizontal members, a series of vertical standards hinged at their upper and lower ends to the respective horizontal members, each standard consisting of two sections, one of said sections having an eye formed at its inner end from which its arms diverge, and the inner end portion of the other section having a coil formed therein which passes through said eye, and its end being extended beyond the hinge, and a ring slidably supported on the first-namedsection to engage such extending end to lock it to the section which supports the ring, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LA FAYETTE XVILDERMUTII. lVitnesses:

A. L. R. WILDERMUTH, FRANK X. WOLF.

ICC

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